Goose Fat Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Goose fat is a versatile ingredient with a rich, silky texture and a subtle savoury flavour. It has a high burning point, which means it can be used to cook foods at a high temperature without burning or breaking down. Goose fat is most famous for making the ultimate roast potatoes, but it can also be used for frying onions, making pastry, roasting poultry and game, and much more. But can you use goose fat in an air fryer?

The answer is yes! Goose fat can be used in an air fryer to make delicious roast potatoes. The air fryer method is much easier and quicker than cooking roast potatoes in the oven. Simply preheat your air fryer to 180-200°C, toss your parboiled potato chunks with liquid goose fat, then cook for 20-25 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally, until golden and crispy.

Goose fat potatoes in an air fryer: a recipe

Ingredients:

• 6 medium potatoes (Maris Piper potatoes are recommended)
• 2 tbsp goose fat (heaped)
• 1 tbsp plain flour
• Salt
• Fresh herbs (optional)

Method:

First, peel and chop the potatoes into chunky pieces. Add them to a saucepan, cover with water, and add a pinch of salt. Bring the water to a boil and simmer until a knife tip can be inserted easily.

Remove from the heat, drain the water, and return the potatoes to the saucepan. Add the flour, put the lid on, and give the potatoes a good shake to coat them lightly and fluff them up. Leave them to cool until you're about 25 minutes from serving.

Preheat your air fryer to 190ºC/350ºF. Melt the goose fat in short bursts in the microwave. Use a silicone pastry brush to lightly brush the potatoes with the melted goose fat.

Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket and cook for about 20-25 minutes. Check on them at regular intervals and turn them to ensure even cooking. Depending on the size, they may need a few extra minutes.

You can parboil the potatoes first to reduce the cooking time. Simply cook, drain, and allow them to cool before brushing with the melted goose fat.

Serve with fresh herbs, if desired. Rosemary is a great option!

Tips:

• Goose fat has a high burning point, so it's great for cooking at high temperatures without burning or breaking down.
• When chopping the potatoes, create corners to maximize the crispy bits.
• You can parboil the potatoes up to a day in advance and store them in the fridge until you're ready to cook.
• If you don't have an air fryer, you can use an oven instead. Follow the same recipe, but pop your potatoes in the oven at 200ºC.

The benefits of using goose fat over other oils

Yes, you can use goose fat in an air fryer. In fact, goose fat is a great option for achieving crispy roast potatoes with a fluffy interior. But what are the benefits of using goose fat over other oils?

Rich Flavour Profile

Goose fat is known for its unique, rich flavour that can enhance a wide range of dishes. Its taste is often described as slightly sweet, with a depth that adds complexity to both savoury and sweet recipes. It can transform ordinary ingredients into gourmet delights.

High Smoke Point

Goose fat has a high smoke point of around 375°F (190°C). This makes it an excellent choice for high-heat cooking methods such as frying, roasting, and sautéing. It can withstand higher temperatures without breaking down or imparting a burnt taste to your food.

Nutritional Advantages

Despite its indulgent reputation, goose fat has a good balance of fats. It is rich in monounsaturated fats, which support heart health. It also has a lower proportion of saturated fats compared to butter, making it a healthier option among animal fats.

Long Shelf Life

When stored properly, goose fat has a long shelf life. It can be kept in the refrigerator for several months or even longer in the freezer. This makes it a convenient staple for your kitchen.

A Little Goes a Long Way

Goose fat is intensely flavourful, so you can use smaller quantities compared to other fats. This makes it an economical choice over time.

Versatility

Goose fat is incredibly versatile and can be used for roasting, frying, baking, and making confit. It is perfect for achieving crispy, golden roast potatoes, flaky pastry, and rich, flavourful vegetables. It can also be used for frying chicken, eggs, and even popcorn!

How to prepare potatoes for an air fryer

Preparing potatoes for an air fryer is a simple process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Select the Right Potatoes: Choose potatoes that are uniform in size and free from blemishes. Baby golden potatoes, Yukon Golds, or Yellow Potatoes are great options. Avoid Russet potatoes as they are better suited for French fries due to their starchy texture.

Parboil the Potatoes: Start by parboiling your potatoes for 8-10 minutes, or until they are two-thirds cooked. This step helps reduce the cooking time in the air fryer and creates a fluffy texture. Drain the potatoes and let them dry completely. You can also add a tablespoon of flour to the potatoes and shake them to rough up the edges, creating crispy bits.

Season the Potatoes: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the potatoes with your desired seasonings. You can use olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic (freshly minced or powder), salt, and pepper. You can also add a tablespoon of flour to create a crispy texture. Mix well to ensure the seasonings are evenly distributed.

Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 190°C or 350°F. Preheating ensures that your potatoes will cook evenly and helps achieve maximum crispiness.

Cook the Potatoes: Place the seasoned potatoes in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer with some space between them. Cook for about 10 minutes, then shake or stir the potatoes for even cooking. Continue cooking for another 8-10 minutes or until they are tender and crispy.

Garnish and Serve: Once the potatoes are cooked to your desired level of doneness, garnish them with fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme. Serve them as a side dish with your favourite meals.

By following these steps, you can easily prepare delicious and crispy potatoes in your air fryer. Enjoy!

How to melt goose fat

Goose fat is a versatile ingredient with a rich, silky texture and a subtle savoury flavour. It is solid when refrigerated, but is liquid at room temperature. It has a melting point of between 25°C and 37°C, so melting goose fat can be done in a number of ways.

Melting Goose Fat in an Air Fryer

Air fryers can be used to melt goose fat. Simply preheat your air fryer to 180ºC/190ºC and place the goose fat in the air fryer basket. You can also brush the goose fat onto potatoes and cook them in the air fryer, melting the fat and cooking the potatoes at the same time.

Melting Goose Fat in a Microwave

If you are melting a small amount of goose fat, you can use a microwave. Place the goose fat in a microwave-safe container and heat in short bursts until melted.

Melting Goose Fat on a Stovetop

To melt goose fat on a stovetop, place the goose fat in a pan over a low heat. Allow the fat to melt slowly, stirring occasionally to prevent it from burning or sticking to the pan.

Rendering Goose Fat

Rendering goose fat is a process that involves slowly heating the fat to separate it from the skin and other connective tissues. This can be done on a stovetop or in an oven. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• Start with a goose that has been trimmed of excess fat and skin. Remove the giblets (neck, heart, and liver) and set aside for stock or other recipes.
• Trim away the visceral fat (fat around the internal organs), neck fat, and tail fat. Also, trim any excess skin from the neck and abdominal cavity.
• Chop the fat and skin into small pieces. The smaller the pieces, the faster and more evenly the fat will render.
• Place the chopped fat and skin in a heavy-bottomed pan or Dutch oven. Add about 1 cup of water to the pan to prevent the fat from burning.
• Set the burner to a very low heat and allow the fat to simmer gently. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
• As the water evaporates, the fat will start to release and the bubbles will change. Once all the water has cooked off, the cracklings (crispy bits of skin and fat) will begin to brown.
• Once the fat is fully rendered, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean container to separate the fat from the cracklings.
• Allow the fat to cool and solidify before storing in the refrigerator for up to 3 months or in the freezer for longer.

Rendered goose fat can be used for a variety of cooking applications, including roasting potatoes, sautéing vegetables, frying eggs, and making pastries.

Other foods you can cook with goose fat

Goose fat is incredibly versatile and can be used to cook a wide range of foods. Here are some ideas for dishes you can make using goose fat:

Roasted Vegetables

Goose fat has traditionally been prized in Europe for frying and roasting vegetables. All root vegetables are delicious roasted in goose fat, especially parsnips. The high smoke point of goose fat allows for a crispy and golden exterior while keeping the inside tender and fluffy.

Fried Bread and Toast

Spread goose fat generously on pieces of bread and put them into a hot frying pan for an even coating and golden colour. Alternatively, heat the fat in the pan and add the bread. For a posh canapé, spread goose fat on rye bread and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Top with some pickled red cabbage.

Fried Eggs and Omelettes

If you like a crispy edge to your fried egg, fry it in really hot goose fat. Omelettes will also have a richer flavour.

Dumplings

Dumplings made with goose fat are lovely and light and require less fat than if made with suet.

Pastry

Shortcrust pastry can be made with goose fat, but it can be very short and difficult to handle. Use less fat than you would if using butter or lard. Goose fat is ideal for hot water crust pastry.

Duck and Goose Confit

Goose fat is perfect for the French way of preserving food in fat, or confit. It is also excellent for preparing duck, goose or pork rillettes, a homemade coarse pate made from confit.

Roasting Poultry and Game

Brown birds in hot goose fat in a frying pan to colour and seal them before cooking, or just spread goose fat on the breasts of the bird before roasting. This is good for keeping turkey breast tender.

Stuffings

Fry chopped onion, celery and garlic in goose fat to soften, before adding the rest of the ingredients.

Risotto

Risotto normally uses a lot of butter for frying the onions and coating the rice grains, but goose fat gives depth and richness without adding as much fat.

Frequently asked questions